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Purchasing

Since 2008, the Purchasing Department has worked with suppliers to encourage more efficient manufacturing and delivery processes that fulfill the University’s evolving sustainability requirements. Some of Princeton’s most aggressive green purchasing initiatives include its transition to chemical-free “blue” cleaning products and its policy to purchase only 100 percent post-consumer chlorine-free recycled printer and copier paper. Princeton also participates actively in one national and four regional purchasing cooperatives, which provide opportunities for broader sustainability impact among suppliers.

Goal

Encourage sustainability in the supply chain and procurement of purchased goods and services.

Progress

In 2017, Princeton transitioned suppliers for a new campus-wide copier program. The new multi function devices default to double sided print and black and white to minimize both paper and toner usage. Energy usage in an idle state is significantly lower than past machines therefore requiring less electricity.

In 2017, the portion of re-manufactured printer cartridges purchased increased to about 53 percent from just 1 percent in 2009.

The AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) allows metric-driven progress assessment across operations and academics for North American higher education and has recognized Princeton at the Silver leadership level.

About 60 percent by volume of chemical cleaners and soaps purchased were Green Seal™ certified, an increase from 34 percent in 2010.

The University purchased about the same amount of paper per capita in 2016 as last year, and 143 fewer tons than 2008. Since 2009, when a student print quota was instituted, sheets printed in computer clusters and public libraries have declined by 35 percent.